Joist supporting device

ABSTRACT

A device for supporting a joist in weight supporting relation relative to a beam member, wherein the device includes a support arm having a bracket adjustably positioned thereon such that the device may be readily adapted to any size beam member. An adjusting means in the form of a wedge member is arranged to movably engage both the bracket and the beam so as to force the joist into locking engagement with the beam thereby properly positioning it in weight supporting relation. Bracket positioning means locks the bracket in a desired position on the support arm and may take the form of a spring biased stop member wherein the positioning means, when operatively positioned, serves to maintain both the bracket and wedge means in locked position relative to the support arm and beam member respectively.

[ JOIST SUPPORTING DEVICE 76] Inventor: Alan P. Arne tt, 3050 Ravenwppd Road, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33312 22], Filed: June30 1971 21 Appl.No.: 158,155

[52] US. Cl. 248/228, 248/235, 248/354 S,

249/23, 254/104 [51] Int. Cl E04g 3/00, A47g 29/02 [58] Field of Search 248/228, 235, 354 R,

,248/354 C, 354 P, 354 S; 249/23, 24, 25; 254/104 j [56] References Cited V UNITED STATES PATENTS 780,979 1/1905 Correll 248/354 S 883,859 4/1908 Corris 248/228 1,559,575 11/1925 McMillan 254/104 1,831,613 11/1931 Symons 254/104 2,539,703 1/1951 Sato 254/104 2,725,210 11/1955 Swartz 248/354 S 3,122,347 2/1964 Robinson et al.... 248/243 3,383,080 5/1968 F'risbie 248/354 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 216,404 5/1924 Great Britain 249/24 11 3,738,602 June 12, 1973 Great Britain 249/23 62,394 1/1955 France 248/354 S B14979 6/1956 Germany 957,746 2/1957 Germany .L 248/354 3 Primary Examiner-Marion Parsons, Jr. Attorney-Stefan M. Stein [57] ABSTRACT A device for, supporting a joist in weight supporting rejoist into locking engagement with the beam thereby properly positioning it in weight supporting relation. Bracket positioning means locks the bracket in a desired position on the support arm and may take the fonn of a spring biased stop member wherein the posirespectively.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented June '12, 1973 3,738,602

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z INVENTOR.

ALAN P. ARNETT i BY 34 F|G.5 2

ATQNEY.

Patented June 12, 1973 3,738,602

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 9

INVENTOR. ALAN P. ARNETT ATTORNEY.

JOIST SUPPORTING DEVICE BACKGROUND'OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention I This invention relates to a device which is adjustably positioned so as to be mountable on various sized beam members and to maintain a joist in weight supporting position relative to the beam member such that a concrete slab or other structure may be supported by said joist.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various prior art devices and apparatus exist in the construction industry which are primarily designed for the positioning and supporting of joist members. These devices include relatively crude makeshift items such as two or more boards connected together by any conventional means and braced or propped underneath a joist member. The joist is thereby positioned in weight supporting relation to a concrete slab or other structure which the joist is intended to support. It can be seen that this type of apparatus is unreliable, often times dangerous and generally is considered an inefficient means to properly position a joist in weight supporting relation to a given structure.

In an attempt to overcome the obvious deficiencies in such markshift devices, the construction industry has devised and utilized a plurality of relatively complicated structures which, while generally considered more reliable, and less dangerous, are often times too costly due to the relative complexity of these devices.

These more complex prior art joist supporting devices are often times made adjustable, usually by means of telescopically arranged shafts which serve as the main support arm of the device. These shafts may be movably positioned relative to one another so that the device itself may be operably positioned relative to the joist it supports. These devices often times extend from a floor, which serves as a supporting surface, upwardly to the joist which is mounted at the top of the device and which serves to support the flooring or ceiling structure which is being constructed on the next level or story of a building, for example. Because of their design, and the fact that they are intended to be positioned in this manner, these devices are necessarily large, extremely bulky and hard to transport to different construction sites. In addition, due to their relatively complex nature these devices are initially expensive and costly to maintain once the device is put into use.

In an attempt to overcome the obvious deficiencies associated with these floor-to-ceiling joist supporting devices, attempts have been made to design various supporting structures capable of cooperating with a support beam such as an I-beam. This type of device maintains the joist, relative to the supporting beam, in a position to support a ceiling or flooring structure in the form of a concrete slab or the like. While these devices have somewhat overcome the bulkiness problem they are still considered to be generally inefficient due to their lack of versatility in being adaptable to various size support beams and in maintaining the proper positioning of the joist member in relation to a structure which it is intended to support.

Accordingly, it is obvious that there is a definite need in the construction industry for a joist supporting device which may be adjustably mounted on a support beam of almost any given size and shape and which efficiently positions a joist member in weight supporting relation to the support beam. In addition, the device should be readily removable from the support beam or the structure when the structure which the joist is intended to support is formed securely in place. Such a device should be of relatively simple construction, inexpensive, yet reliable and durable over an extended period of heavy-duty use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device designed to be adjustably mounted'on a support beam, which may be in the form of an I-beam and arranged relative thereto so as to maintain a joist member in a weight supporting position relative to the I-beam. The joist is positioned in this manner so as to provide support for flooring or ceiling in the form of a concrete slab or the like which requires temporary support until the concrete slab structure hardens in place.

The device comprises a support leg means which may be in the form, of an angle iron arranged, when in operative position, in spaced substantially parallel relation to the base of an I-beam or like support beam structure. The angle iron includes a plurality of apertures arranged in spaced relation to one another along the longitudinal axis of the support leg. A bracket means is adjustably positioned along the longitudinal axis of the support leg by virtue of connecting means cooperating with the bracket and extending through one or more of these apertures arranged on the support leg. The bracket has a channel formed in one portion thereof which is designed to have movably mounted therein an adjusting means in the form of a wedge. The wedge is angularly oriented relative to the bracket and is intended to engage a portion of the support beam on which the device is mounted. V

A saddle having a substantially U-shaped configuration is pivotally or movably mounted on one extremity of the support leg. The saddleengages the joist in such a manner that the joist may pivot relative to. the support leg so as to facilitate the positioning and installation of the joist relative to the support beam with which it co.- operates in its weight supporting position. This saddle may be secured tothe joist member by means of one or more apertures through which nails or other conventional type connectorsmay extend and thereby engage the joist.

Another embodiment of the present invention com prises a bracket positioning means which is operatively connected to the bracket. The bracket is thereby arranged in locked engagement at one of a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis of the support arm. The bracket positioning means includes a stop member having a portion or surface thereof configured to matingly engage a correspondingly configured surface or portion on the support arm. The stop member is naturally biased into this locking engagement with the support arm by means of a biasing spring positioned in sandwiched-like fashion between the stop member and a brace means. The brace means serves to support the spring into biased relation with the stop member. A lever is either integrally or otherwise attached to the stop member so as to remove it from locking engagement with the support arm when the device is desired to be removed from the support beam. The bracket positioning means further provides a projection which is either located directly on the stop member or on another portion of the positioning means and which is arranged to lockingly engage a groove or other cooperating portion of the wedge means. By virtue of this arrangement the wedge may be locked in its operative position relative to the bracket so as to insure that the device cannot be inadvertently detached from the joist and support beam on which it is mounted.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing the device of the present invention mounted on an I-beam and in operative engagement with the joist.

- FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of FIG. 1 showing the device in operative position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the bracket means taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4- -4 of FIG. 2 showing the bracket means and the wedge member arranged in operative relation to the support arm.

FIG. 5 is a top sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing the bracket means mounted on the support arm.

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention wherein the bracket means has a bracket positioning means attached thereto.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of yet another embodiment of a bracket positioning means attached thereto.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along lines 9-9 of FIG. 8.

. Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The adjustable joist supporting device is generally shown as 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and comprises an elongated support arm means 12 which may be in the form of an angle iron having a plurality of apertures 14 arranged relative to one another in spaced relation along the longitudinal axis of the support arm. A saddle member 16 has a substantially U-shaped configuration (FIG. 2) and is movably mounted to the upper extremity, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, of the support arm 12. This movable connection is in the form of hinge ears l8 and 20 movably engaging apertured extension 22 of the saddle wherein the saddle rotates or pivots about pin 24. The joist 26 is designed to fit between the arms of the U-shaped saddle 16 as shown in FIG. 2. The joist 26 is fixedly attached to the channel 16 by means of one or more apertures 28 located in each arm of saddle 16. These apertures are designed to accommodate nails or similar connecting means in such a manner that the nails may be driven directly into the joist 26 as clearly shown in FIG. 2.

Bracket means generally indicated at 30 is designed to be positioned at a plurality of locations along the longitudinal axis of the support arm 12. More specifically, the bracket means 30 comprises a body 32 having one or more apertures 34 formed therein and arranged to be correspondingly positioned in cooperating relation with the apertures 14 on the support leg 12. By virtue of this arrangement a connecting means in the form of a screw and nut arrangement 36 extends through correspondingly positioned apertures 14 and 34 in the support leg and bracket means respectively.

An adjusting means in the form of a wedge member 40 is designed to engage both the lower flange 42 of the support beam 44, on which the device is mounted, and the bracket means 30. It should be noted while support beam 44 is shown in the form of an l-beam, the device of the subject invention is versatile enough to be adapted to various configured support beams of different sizes. The wedge member 40 engages the bracket means 30 by virtue of a channel 46. This channel has an angularly oriented or inclined edge 50 which is designed to cooperate by frictional engagement with angularly oriented or incline surface 52 of the wedge member 40. It should be noted that as clearly shown in FIG. 4, the degree of inclination of services 50 and 52 are different in order that the force exerted between the bracket means and the wedge member is centered at the area of engagement between the surface 50 and 52, namely area 54. This area of engagement defines a bite which serves to lock the wedge member 40 relative to the bracket 30 when the wedge member is in operative engagement. As best shown in FIG. 1 the lower edge 58 is designed to engage the upper surface of the lower flange 42. The wedge member further includes a generally outward projecting flange 60 which facilitates the removal of the wedge member from its frictional engagement with both the support beam 44 and the bracket 30.

By virtue of the fact that the bracket means is fixedly secured to the support arm and the wedge is arranged in sandwiched-like fashion between the lower flange 42 of the support beam and the angularly inclined surface 50 of the bracket means, sufficient force is exerted upon joist 26 to maintain it in weight supporting relation relative to the top portion of I-beam 44 (FIG. 1). The wedge member 40 is operatively positioned when driven inwardly towards the I-beam as indicated by di-. rectional arrow 62.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, another embodiment of the present invention comprises a bracket positioning means which includes stop member 64 arranged to lockingly engage support arm 12 and thereby fixedly secure the bracket 30 in any given position along the longitudinal axis of support arm 12. This locking engagement is provided by correspondingly configured surfaces 66 and 68 of the stop member 64 and support arm 12 respectively. A biasing means in the form of spring 70 is arranged in sandwich-like fashion between a brace means 72 and the stop member itself 64. The spring naturally tends to bias the stop member into locking engagement with the portion of support arm 12 on which is located the correspondingly positioned surface 68. FIG. 6 clearly shows stop member 64 movably positioned within the recess 74 defined partially by the brace means 72. A lever or the like 76 is integrally or otherwise attached to stop member 64 such that the stop member may be removed from locking engagement with the support arm in order that the bracket 32 may be movable along the longitudinal axis of support arm 12. Handle means 77 is attached to lever 76 to facilitate its movement within chamber 74. The wedge member 40 is operatively positioned relative to bracket means 30 as previously explained with reference to the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1--5. Directional arrow 79 indicates the direction of movement of wedge 40 into and out of locking engagement with bottom ledge 42 of the supporting l-beam.

With specific reference to FIG. 8 and 9, another embodiment of the bracket positioning means is shown. This embodiment includes a stop member 80 pivotally mounted relative to arm 12 and wedge 40 by means of rod 81 movably connected within channel 83 of wedge 40. The correspondingly configured surfaces 82 and 94 of the stop member 80 and support arm 12 respectively may be brought into locking engagement when the stop member is pivoted to engage the support arm. Biasing spring 70 and brace means 72 are arranged and function in substantially the same manner as explained with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 6. The embodiment of FIG. 8 further includes means by which the bracket positioning means lockingly engages the wedge member 40.More specifically, this includes an extension 86 designed to frictionally engage a groove or the like formed in cooperative position on the wedge member 40. The wedge member may be locked in position relative to the bracket 30, when the device is in operative position, mounted on ledge 42 of support I-beam and supporting a joist as previously explained.

Regardless of the embodiment used, in operation, the joist 26 is first secured to the saddle 16 by inserting nails or like connecting means through theapertures 28 as previously explained. The bracket 30 is then adjusted relative to and dependent upon the size between upper and lower flanges 41 and 42 of I-beam 44. Depending on the particular embodiment used, connecting means 36 are either inserted through the apertures 14 and 34 of the arm and bracket respectively (embodiment of FIGS. 1-5) or the locking means is adjusted accordingly (embodiments of FIG. 6-9). The wedge member 40 then is positioned in the channel 46 and forced inwardly toward the support beam 44 by a hammer or like means, as represented by directional arrow 62 (FIG. 1). The wedging action resulting on the bracket means 30 forces the joist 26 by virtue of its connection to the saddle l6 upwardly against the lower surface of upper flange 41 of I-beam 44. Accordingly, the joist is thereby positioned in weight supporting relation to a flooring, ceiling which may be form of a concrete slab or the like.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above articles without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be. said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described,

What is claimed is:

l. A device of the type designed to maintain a joist in weight supporting relationship to a beam structure, said device comprising: vertically disposed support leg means arranged in interconnecting relationship between the joist and the beam structure, saddle means pivotally connected to the upper portion of said leg means and arranged in supporting engagement with the joist such that the joist is rotationally movable relative to said leg, adjustable bracket means connected in vertical alignment to said leg means, adjusting means movably engaging said bracket means and arranged in supporting relationship between the beam and the joist, said bracket means slidingly engaging said adjusting means in angular relationship thereto, such that a portion of said bracket means is arranged in locking relationship to said adjusting means, said adjusting means comprises awedge member including at least one tapered edge, channel means formed on said bracket,

said channel means comprising a pair of spaced parallel sides in rigid supporting relationship to said wedge member, said wedge member arranged within said channel in angular relationship thereto: the lower and upper portion of said wedge member engaging said beam and said bracket means respectively whereby movement of said adjusting means relative to said beam serves to wedge the joist and said saddle against the upper portion of the beam.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said saddle means is substantially U-shaped and pivotally attached to the upper extreme of said leg, connecting means formed on said saddle means to connect said saddle means to the joist.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said wedge member includes a flange extending outwardly therefrom to facilitate removal of said wedge member from said channel.

4. A device as in claim 1 in combination with the beam structure, said beam structure comprising an beam, said leg support means including a plurality of apertures arranged in vertically spaced relationship along a longitudinal axis thereof, said bracket means including at least one aperture formed therein such that said bracket means is adjustable vertically along the longitudinal axis of said support leg means and lockingly engage said support leg means when the apertures of said support leg means and said bracket means are correspondingly positioned, said adjusting means slidingly engaging said bracket and said lower portion of said I-beam such that said bracket means and said support leg means move vertically in response to horizontal movement of said adjusting means to determine the effective distance between said bracket means and the upper portion of said l-beam whereby said device maintains the joist in weight supporting relation and in engagement with the upper portion and lower portion of said I-beam. l

5. A device as in claim 1 further comprising bracket positioning means connected to said bracket and arranged in operative engagement with said support leg means, whereby said bracket is mounted in position on said support leg means when said bracket positioning means is operatively connected to said leg support means.

6. A device as in claim 5 wherein saidbracket positioning means comprising stop means positioned in working engagement with said support leg means, brace means, biasing means arranged in operative engagement with both said brace and said stop means, whereby said stop means is movable into and out of locking engagement with said support leg means.

7. A device as in claim 6 wherein said stop means is movably mounted relative to said support leg, at least one portion of said stop means having a corresponding configuration to a portion of said support leg means, said support leg portion and said stop means portion being-cooperatively positioned for locking engagement with one another.

8. A device as in claim 7 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring arranged to bias said stop means into engagement with said support leg means, whereby engagement of said stop means and said support leg means serves to immovably position said bracket means on said support leg means.

9. A device as in claim 6 wherein said bracket pos'iof said apertures and said connecting means. 

1. A device of the type designed to maintain a joist in weight supporting relationship to a beam structure, said device comprising: vertically disposed support leg means arranged in interconnecting relationship between the joist and the beam structure, saddle means pivotally connected to the upper portion of said leg means and arranged in supporting engagement with the joist such that the joist is rotationally movable relative to said leg, adjustable bracket means connected in vertical alignment to said leg means, adjusting means movably engaging said bracket means and arranged in supporting relationship between the beam and the joist, said bracket means slidingly engaging said adjusting means in angular relationship thereto, such that a portion of said bracket means is arranged in locking relationship to said adjusting means, said adjusting means comprises a wedge member including at least one tapered edge, channel means formed on said bracket, said channel means comprising a pair of spaced parallel sides in rigid supporting relationship to said wedge member, said wedge member arranged within said channel in angular relationship thereto: the lower and upper portion of said wedge member engaging said beam and said bracket means respectively whereby movement of said adjusting means relative to said beam serves to wedge the joist and said saddle against the upper portion of the beam.
 2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said saddle means is substantially U-shaped and pivotally attached to the upper extreme of Said leg, connecting means formed on said saddle means to connect said saddle means to the joist.
 3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said wedge member includes a flange extending outwardly therefrom to facilitate removal of said wedge member from said channel.
 4. A device as in claim 1 in combination with the beam structure, said beam structure comprising an I-beam, said leg support means including a plurality of apertures arranged in vertically spaced relationship along a longitudinal axis thereof, said bracket means including at least one aperture formed therein such that said bracket means is adjustable vertically along the longitudinal axis of said support leg means and lockingly engage said support leg means when the apertures of said support leg means and said bracket means are correspondingly positioned, said adjusting means slidingly engaging said bracket and said lower portion of said I-beam such that said bracket means and said support leg means move vertically in response to horizontal movement of said adjusting means to determine the effective distance between said bracket means and the upper portion of said I-beam whereby said device maintains the joist in weight supporting relation and in engagement with the upper portion and lower portion of said I-beam.
 5. A device as in claim 1 further comprising bracket positioning means connected to said bracket and arranged in operative engagement with said support leg means, whereby said bracket is mounted in position on said support leg means when said bracket positioning means is operatively connected to said leg support means.
 6. A device as in claim 5 wherein said bracket positioning means comprising stop means positioned in working engagement with said support leg means, brace means, biasing means arranged in operative engagement with both said brace and said stop means, whereby said stop means is movable into and out of locking engagement with said support leg means.
 7. A device as in claim 6 wherein said stop means is movably mounted relative to said support leg, at least one portion of said stop means having a corresponding configuration to a portion of said support leg means, said support leg portion and said stop means portion being cooperatively positioned for locking engagement with one another.
 8. A device as in claim 7 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring arranged to bias said stop means into engagement with said support leg means, whereby engagement of said stop means and said support leg means serves to immovably position said bracket means on said support leg means.
 9. A device as in claim 6 wherein said bracket positioning means is arranged relative to said bracket means so as to operatively engage said adjusting means, whereby said adjusting means is immovably positioned relative to said bracket means when engaging said bracket positioning means.
 10. A device as in claim 1 wherein said support leg means includes a plurality of apertures arranged in vertically spaced relation to one another, connecting means arranged on said bracket means to removably engage at least one of said apertures, whereby said bracket means is movably positionable along the longitudinal axis of said support leg means by cooperation of said apertures and said connecting means. 